News Release

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Help Find Family’s Pet, “Tequila” NR14119pv-rf

Dog Stolen during Burglary

Mission Hills: Tequila, a 5-pound toy poodle and cherished member of the Molina family, was taken March 5, 2014, during a daytime burglary at the family’s house on Pinney Street. Detectives are now trying to solve a crime that feels more like a kidnapping than a burglary to the victims.

“Some callous person broke in through a window and ransacked the home,” said Officer Kelli Pickart, who is investigating the burglary for LAPD’s Mission Police Station. “It was bad enough to take this family’s computer, but to take their precious pet…it’s really maddening.”

This burglary is the third within the last year where a victim’s dog was taken along with the victims’ possessions. “We’ve been lucky to find two other dogs and return them to the owners,” Officer Pickart explained.

While owners might think of their pets as family, under the law, they count as property. “Tequila was valued at $600, but she is priceless to the Molinas,” Officer Pickart said. “The family has offered a reward for the return of Tequila. We think some unsuspecting person may have received the dog as a recent gift from a friend, perhaps even from the burglar who took her.”

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Officer Kelli Pickart, Mission Burglary Table at (818) 838-9864. Anonymous tips can be called into Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477) or by texting 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Online tips may be placed at www.LAPDOnline.org, by clicking on “webtips” and following the prompts.